30 mg Prednisolone for relapse but pain persists, can this be?

An update from MrsMac

With GP agreement I am now reducing by 2½mg every 2 weeks from 30 mg. When I reach 20mg GP wants another Blood test. Symptoms of relapse has greatly improved, just left with slight aches in back of legs and sometimes hands and arms. Tiredness remains.

But my right forearm which has given me pain from beginning of relapse 2 months ago continues with the same severity, it's not there on waking but begins shortly afterwards and continues soon after any sort of usage and continues until about 2 o'clock, and from just this week will generate up into the shoulder of that right arm, I am unable to use hand for writing or other simple uses without aggravating the pain in that forearm.

I went back to see GP who ruled out tennis elbow and tendinitis but did not think that it is connected to PMR.

She proscribed Ibuleve and suggested heatpad which I have used, but pain persists as I said until about 2 o'clock each day. GP said she thought it to be muscle pain.

I have now arranged to see a Physio. on Tuesday next, Hubby does typing!

I would welcome any comment, knowing how helpful you all have been on this site.

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Hi MrsMAC (and helpful hubby!)

It does sound as though the arm pain could be related to the inflammation of PMR in view of the fact that it disappears around 2 o'clock each day - this could be because the daily steroid dose has kicked in by that time. Equally, it could be muscle weakness due to the steroids.

After long-term pain from one of my arms, I sought help from a physio who found problems in my shoulder blades. Several appointments with gentle massage, heat treatment and ultrasound sorted it out. Very important to find a physio who understands PMR - the usual manipulation techniques should be avoided in order not to aggravate the inflammation. Good luck!

MrsO

I had forearm pain with PMR at the early stages - it ran from the outside of my elbow to the inside of my wrist. I put it down to RSI initially. I used a wrist support (the sort that straps around your forearm and around your palm) and that helped a lot - I couldn't hand over the typing to my husband as I do it for a living as a freelance translator!

If it is the same - the GP is incorrect in simply saying it isn't tendonitis though I wonder if the PMR causes a form of focal dystonia - that resembles writer's cramp. Lots of us found we dropped stuff and our hands didn't work properly. Mine resolved eventually with the pred - as did the other bits of bursitis all over, in hips, hands and feet.

Eileen

Again, many many thanks for input MrsO and EileenH, your advice I know will be helpful to me over the oncoming days and when visiting the Physio.

Thanks again MrsMac